Quiz 19: The Atmosphere

The most abundant gas in the atmosphere is A) oxygen. B) nitrogen. C) water vapor. D) carbon dioxide.

The second most abundant gas in the atmosphere is A) oxygen. B) nitrogen. C) water vapor. D) carbon dioxide.

Which of the following gases is a trace natural constituent of the air? A) Ar B) SO₂ ​ C) CO D) NO₂ ​

Which of the following gases is a trace natural constituent of the air? A) CO B) SO₂ C) CO₂ D) NO₂

Oxygen is supplied to the atmosphere by A) ozone. B) incomplete combustion. C) photosynthesis. D) complete combustion.

Photosynthesis produces ______________ in the atmosphere. A) carbon dioxide B) oxygen C) argon D) carbon monoxide

Which of the following is the most variable constituent of air? A) Argon B) Oxygen C) Water vapor D) Nitrogen

The ozone layer lies in the A) stratosphere. B) troposphere. C) mesosphere. D) thermosphere.

Exploration of this part of the atmosphere was conducted in the nineteenth century with hot-air balloons. A) Stratosphere B) Troposphere C) Mesosphere D) Thermosphere

About 80% of the mass of the atmosphere and most of the clouds and water vapor are located in the A) stratosphere. B) troposphere. C) mesosphere. D) thermosphere.

The transition between the troposphere and the stratosphere is called the A) stratopause. B) tropopause. C) mesopause. D) thermopause.

The top of the troposphere is called the A) stratopause. B) tropopause. C) mesopause. D) thermopause.

The bottom of the stratosphere is called the A) stratopause. B) tropopause. C) mesopause. D) thermopause.

The top of the stratosphere is called the A) stratopause. B) tropopause. C) mesopause. D) thermopause.

The top of the thermosphere is called the A) stratopause. B) tropopause. C) mesopause. D) thermopause.

Weather occurs in the A) stratosphere. B) troposphere. C) mesosphere. D) thermosphere.

Jet planes avoid bad weather by flying above it in the A) stratosphere. B) troposphere. C) mesosphere. D) thermosphere.

The coldest region of the atmosphere is the A) stratosphere. B) troposphere. C) mesosphere. D) thermosphere.

At 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, this part of atmosphere is heated almost directly by the Sun's rays. A) Stratosphere B) Troposphere C) Mesosphere D) Thermosphere

Some of Earth's artificial satellites orbit in the A) stratosphere. B) troposphere. C) mesosphere. D) thermosphere. E) exosphere.

The stratosphere and the troposphere account for ______________ of the mass of the atmosphere. A) 80% B) 90% C) 99.9% D) 78.1%

The process that effectively regulates Earth's average temperature is A) the greenhouse effect. B) Rayleigh scattering. C) the dew point. D) auroras.

The reason why the sky is blue is best explained by A) the greenhouse effect. B) Rayleigh scattering. C) the dew point. D) auroras.

Which of the following radiations is absorbed in the greenhouse effect? A) Ultraviolet only B) Visible only C) Infrared only D) All of these

The principal gases responsible for the greenhouse effect are A) water vapor and oxygen. B) oxygen and nitrogen. C) carbon dioxide and nitrogen. D) carbon dioxide and water vapor.

Radio waves, of sufficient frequency, pass through which of the following ion layers? A) C B) D C) E D) F

Radio waves are reflected by which of the following ion layers? A) C B) D C) E D) B

Radio waves are reflected by which of the following ion layers? A) C B) D C) F D) A

Ions trapped in Earth's magnetic field give rise to A) photosynthesis. B) auroras. C) ultraviolet radiation. D) ozone.

The ozone layer causes a temperature increase in the A) thermosphere. B) mesosphere. C) troposphere. D) stratosphere.

A phenomenon that occurs in the ionosphere is A) the greenhouse effect. B) photosynthesis. C) Rayleigh scattering. D) auroras.

The blueness of the sky results from A) preferential scattering of light by gas molecules. B) the lapse rate. C) the greenhouse effect. D) latent heat.

The troposphere derives energy by means of A) latent heat of condensation only. B) absorption of terrestrial radiation only. C) conduction from Earth's surface only. D) all of these.

The fraction of incident light that a body reflects is known as its A) Rayleigh scattering. B) insolation. C) albedo. D) humidity.

Which of the following has the largest albedo? A) Water B) Polar ice C) Fresh snow D) Dry sand E) Dark soil

Which of the following has the smallest albedo? A) Water B) Polar ice C) Fresh snow D) Dry sand

When the relative humidity is 100%, the air temperature is equal to A) the lapse rate. B) 100°F. C) the dew point temperature. D) none of these.

When measuring air temperature, it is best to avoid A) shade. B) shadows. C) direct sunlight. D) none of these.

Every square inch of our body, at sea level, sustains ______________ of atmospheric pressure. A) 14.7 lb B) 1.47 g C) 14.7 g D) 1.47 lb

The inventor of the mercury barometer was A) Newton. B) Galileo. C) Bergeron. D) Torricelli.

To avoid toxic vapor, one can use a(n) ____________ barometer to measure pressure. A) mercury B) Galileo C) aneroid D) Torricelli

The tallest column of water able to be supported by using atmospheric pressure is A) about 10 m. B) about 1 m. C) about 100 m. D) about 1 cm.

In attempting to pipe water to elevated heights, ______________ investigated atmospheric pressure. A) Newton B) Galileo C) Bergeron D) Torricelli

Which of the following units is used to express atmospheric pressure? A) Torr only B) Millibar only C) Inches of Hg only D) All of these

The relative humidity is 100% when A) the psychrometer wet-bulb temperature is depressed. B) the actual moisture content is equal to the maximum moisture capacity. C) the air temperature is above the dew point temperature. D) the air temperature is 100°F.

The relative humidity (for a given volume of air), expressed as a decimal fraction, is A) the actual water vapor content divided by the maximum water vapor content. B) the maximum water vapor content divided by the actual water vapor content. C) the air temperature divided by the dew point temperature. D) the dew point temperature divided by the air temperature.

For normal household temperatures, a comfortable relative humidity is A) 100% B) 0% C) 25% D) 50%

The heat index accounts for the "real feel" due to the effects of A) temperature and perspiration. B) temperature and pressure. C) temperature and humidity. D) humidity and pressure.

Wind speed is measured by means of A) a psychrometer. B) an anemometer. C) a wind vane. D) a barometer.

A line drawn through locations of equal atmospheric pressure is a(n) A) equipress. B) anemometer. C) wind vane. D) isobar.

Precipitation is measured with A) a psychrometer. B) an anemometer. C) a rain gauge. D) a barometer.

Doppler radar is replacing conventional radar in weather forecasting because A) it can measure wind speeds. B) Doppler radar is widely used in police cars. C) it is cheaper. D) government agencies are required to use the latest equipment.

The horizontal movement of air is called A) an anticyclone. B) wind. C) air currents. D) a hurricane.

A primary force that produces air motion is A) gravity. B) the Coriolis force. C) friction. D) the electromagnetic force.

Air circulation around a cyclone in the Northern Hemisphere as viewed from above is A) counterclockwise. B) the same as in the Southern Hemisphere. C) toward the center of the low-pressure area. D) along isobars.

A sea breeze on a coast is the result of A) Rayleigh scattering. B) a convection cycle. C) the Coriolis force. D) friction or drag.

Land and sea breezes result from A) the Coriolis force. B) convection cycles. C) low-pressure areas. D) high-pressure areas.

The rate at which air temperature changes with altitude is called A) the inversion rate. B) vertical development. C) the lapse rate. D) an isotherm.

The conterminous United States lies predominantly in which wind zone? A) Westerlies B) Northeast tradewinds C) Polar easterlies D) Doldrums

Clouds described as "artist's brushes" or "mare's tails" belong to what cloud family? A) Middle B) Low C) High D) None of these

Which of the following is not a member of the low-cloud family? A) Nimbostratus cloud B) Fog C) Stratus cloud D) Cirrus cloud

An altocumulus cloud belongs to which cloud family? A) Low B) Clouds of vertical development C) High D) Middle

Nimbus means A) "poorly formed." B) "curl." C) "heap." D) none of these.

Nimbus means A) "poorly formed." B) "rain forming cloud." C) "heap." D) none of these.

A type of cloud composed of ice crystals is the A) altostratus. B) cirrostratus. C) stratus. D) nimbostratus.

An average lapse rate of 2.7 °F/1000 ft is equivalent to A) 1.5 °C/m. B) 4.0 °C/1000 ft. C) 5.0 °C/km. D) 6.5 °C/1000 m.

A normal lapse rate of 3.5 °F/1000 ft is equivalent to A) 3.5 °C/m. B) 4 °C/1000 ft. C) 3.5 °C/km. D) 6.5 °C/1000 m.

A normal lapse rate of 2.7 °F/1000 ft is equivalent to A) 3.5 °C/m. B) 1.5 °C/1000 ft. C) 5.0 °C/1000 ft. D) 6.5 °C/1000 ft.

A normal lapse rate of 3.5 °F/1000 ft is equivalent to A) 3.5 °C/m. B) 1.9 °C/1000 ft. C) 3.5 °C/1000 ft. D) 6.5 °C/1000 ft.

Cloud dissipation results from A) an inverted lapse rate. B) hygroscopic nuclei. C) supercooled vapor. D) descending air.

The study of all aspects of the atmosphere is called ______________.

After nitrogen and oxygen, the major constituent of the air is______________.

Carbon dioxide is removed from the air by ______________.

The term weather refers to the atmospheric conditions of the ______________.

The ozone layer absorbs ______________ radiation.

Radio waves are reflected by layers in the ______________.

The fraction of incident light that a body reflects is called its ______________.

The ______________ lies below the stratosphere.

The atmospheric division that lies directly above the stratosphere is the ______________.

Relative humidity is measured with a(n) ______________.

A barometer that does not use mercury is a(n) ______________ barometer.

The principal greenhouse gases are ______________ and ______________.

The relative humidity is 100% at the ______________ temperature.

The rate of temperature decrease with altitude is called the ______________.

A wind vane points in the direction ______________ the wind is blowing.

The major contribution in heating the troposphere comes from ______________.

Meteorologists commonly measure and report (on radio and television) pressure in units of ______________.

The blueness of the sky results from ______________.

Ideally, the wind direction is ______________ to isobars.

Doppler radars at airports are capable of detecting dangerous, downward ______________.

The cloud root name meaning "heap" is ______________.

Stratocumulus clouds belong to the ______________ cloud family.

The rate at which the temperature decreases with altitude is called the ______________.

The velocity-dependent force that produces air motion and is associated with Earth's rotation is called the ______________.

Vertical air movements are referred to as ______________.

If the ground-level air temperature is 20°C, what is the air temperature at the top of the troposphere (16 km), assuming a normal lapse rate?

A meteorologist getting ready for a weather report notes that the wet bulb of a psychrometer has a reading of 60°F when the air temperature is 70°F. What would be the resulting reports for (a) the relative humidity and (b) the dew point temperature?

On a particular day, the air temperature is 75°F. If lowering the air temperature by 9° would cause the air to be saturated, what is the relative humidity?

The absolute moisture content of the air is 7.7 g/ft³ on a day when the air temperature is 75°F. What is the relative humidity?

The air pressure is 14.8 lb/in². a. What is the approximate height, in centimeters, of a mercury column that this pressure would support? b. What would be the height, in meters, of the column for a water barometer?